Cheat Sheet: Ines Pattisserie on Capitol Hill

By Leslie Kelly | August 18, 2014

Credit: Claire Nelson

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The gist: Nohra Belaid moved her Madison Valley bakeshop to new, snazzier quarters on the ground floor of a new apartment building on 11th and Union, bringing along her lineup of sweets and a few savories, all with a French accent.

The vibe: A floor-to-ceiling window-filled space, where morning sunlight pours in, the room has a cheerful, yet chic feeling. Behind the display case, there's a peek-a-boo view into the busy kitchen. Cool decor touches include glass jars filled with candy, a sleek communal table and drop lights that look like icicles illuminate the gorgeous pastries in the case.

Eat this: Belaid's flaky croissants are a big draw, but it's the blueberry tart that's exceptional, with fruit on top of pastry cream that's not too sweet. The tart shell is buttery crisp and sturdy enough to pick up.

Drink this: Caffe Vita coffee is featured, espresso drinks skillfully hand-pulled on a La Marzzoca, yielding an Americano with a thick layer of crema on top.

Skip this: The chocolate cake has a nice flavor, with half a plum in the center, but it was undercooked and not in a molten cake kind of way.